Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast

Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast

Comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried, a man Stephen King once called “a national treasure,” talks with the show business legends, icons and behind-the-scenes talents who shaped his childhood and influenced his comedy. Along with co-host and fellow pop culture fanatic Frank Santopadre, Gilbert is joined by comics, actors, musicians, talk show hosts, writers and other eyewitnesses to Hollywood history, including Bruce Dern, Chevy Chase, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Adam West, Steve Buscemi, Micky Dolenz, Jim Gaffigan, Judd Apatow and DOZENS more, for a funny, frenetic, fly-on-the-wall look at showbiz then and now (but mostly then.) Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast was named "Best Podcast of 2015" by the Village Voice and one of iTunes' "Best of 2014." It has been featured in Rolling Stone, Wired and the Los Angeles Times.

Episodes

June 11, 2026 84 mins
Emmy-nominated writer, producer and comedian Carol Leifer joins Gilbert and Frank to talk about early comedy influences Mickey Katz, Allan Sherman and Vaughn Meader, her salad days at The Comic Strip and Catch a Rising Star and scripting unforgettable “Seinfeld” episodes like “The Rye,” “The Lip Reader” and “The Hamptons” (aka “The Ugly Baby.”) Also, Carol dates Paul Reise...
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In another topic-focused GGACP mini-episode, Gilbert and Frank share their love of unheralded films, underrated TV shows, underappreciated pop songs and often unknown performers, discussing, dissecting and (occasionally) defending their handpicked guilty pleasures and buried treasures. This week: Boss Hogg comes to Brooklyn! Scorsese satirizes SoHo! And the big screen’s first (and last!) Jewish James Bond villain! Learn ...
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The pride of South Philadelphia, former teen idol Bobby Rydell joins Gilbert and Frank at the Friars Club’s George Burns Room to talk about his early days as a drummer, his hit records “Swinging School,” “Wild One” and “Volare” and his memorable role as Ann-Margret’s lovesick boyfriend Hugo Peabody in the movie musical “Bye Bye Birdie.” Also, Bobby opens for Joey Bishop, t...
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In the first in a series of topic-focused mini-episodes, Gilbert and Frank share their love of unheralded films, underrated TV shows, underappreciated pop songs and often unknown performers, discussing, dissecting and (occasionally) defending their handpicked guilty pleasures and buried treasures. This week: the haunting of George C. Scott! Burt Lancaster and Joan Rivers go for a swim! And Don Rickles takes on “Inherit t...
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Outspoken and controversial writer-producer Dan Harmon went from performing improv in his hometown of Milwaukee to creating hit television shows like “Community” and Adult Swim’s “Rick and Morty.” Dan joined Gilbert and Frank for a candid and revealing conversation about the perils of celebrity, how his various neuroses fuel his creativity and why he chose to launch his own podcast (the popular “...
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May 25, 2026 73 mins
To mark 2015's 50th anniversary of the classic adventure series “Lost in Space,” Gilbert and Frank dial up Will Robinson himself, actor, musician and voice artist Bill Mumy, who shares childhood memories of working with icons Irwin Allen, Brigitte Bardot and Walt Disney and explains why he turned down the role of Eddie on "The Munsters." Also, Bill runs afoul of Alfred Hitchcock, stars in three unforgettable “Twil...
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Gilbert and Frank sit down with one of their favorite funny people -- comic, writer and Comedy Central host Dave Attell, to talk about everything from Louis CK’s cult blaxploitation spoof “Pootie Tang” (featuring Dave in a small role) to Gilbert’s controversial (and costly) tsunami jokes to Danny Kaye’s (alleged) love affair with Sir Laurence Olivier. Also: Dave shares his passion for 70’s-era po...
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May 18, 2026 80 mins
Actor, dancer and singer Ken Berry grew up in a small Midwestern town, admiring the musicals of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. After winning several local talent contests, he found his way into show business and was soon pulling down an impressive (for the time) $90 a week! Gilbert and Frank caught up with Ken at his Hollywood home to ask about his “two years of recess” on the classic sitcom “F-Troop” and his ...
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Emmy award-winning writer Alan Zweibel started out in show business by peddling jokes to Catskills comics at seven bucks a pop, before a chance meeting with Lorne Michaels led to a staff job on the hottest new show on television, “Saturday Night Live.” Alan joined Gilbert and Frank at the George Burns Room at the Friars Club to talk about the earliest days of SNL, co-creating the groundbreaking “It’s Garry S...
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As a young boy growing up in Queens, New York, Chuck McCann worshipped stars like Stan Laurel, Buster Keaton and Groucho Marx, and within a few years, he would find himself befriending (or working with) all of them. Gilbert and Frank phoned Chuck (one of THEIR childhood heroes) to talk about his unusual and unlikely journey from obsessed fan to celebrated screen, stage and voice performer and beloved kiddie show host. Also: Chuck h...
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Oscar-nominated actor Gary Busey has been in over 150 movies, working alongside everyone from Barbra Streisand to Steven Seagal. On a recent visit to LA, Gilbert sat down with Gary to talk about his near-death experience, his character “process” and channeling the spirit of Buddy Holly. Also, Gary hosts “Saturday Night Live,” spoons Mel Gibson, jams with Rick Danko and praises Gene Hackman. PLUS: Jack Elam! ...
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Writer, comedian and producer Bob Zmuda has had a busy career, performing, writing and producing comedy specials, co-creating the charity Comic Relief and collaborating with the late (??) great comedian/performance artist Andy Kaufman. Gilbert and Frank rang up Bob at his house in Lake Tahoe to talk about (among other things) his early days as half of the comedy duo Albrecht & Zmuda, his role in bringing the Kaufman biopic &ldq...
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April 30, 2026 61 mins
Actress-comedian Susie Essman is best known to audiences for playing the acid-tongued Susie Greene on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” but she began her career as a stand-up, opening for people like Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Belzer and a young Gilbert Gottfried. For the first live GGACP episode (as part of the annual NYC Podfest), Gilbert and Frank sat down with Susie to talk about her obsession with Turner Classic Movi...
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April 27, 2026 92 mins
Veteran character actor James Karen appeared in over 80 movies, more than 100 television shows and a staggering 5,000 TV commercials. In a career spanning nearly 7 decades (!), he’s worked with Frederic March, Lauren Bacall, Gene Hackman, Steven Spielberg, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford and Will Smith, to name a few. Gilbert and Frank phoned James to cover a wide range of topics, including his film debut in the immortal “Fr...
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April 23, 2026 71 mins
Veteran comedy writer Tom Leopold started out as an actor, working with James Mason, Robert Preston and Ted Knight before creating comedy material for legends Steve Allen, Bob Hope and Mary Tyler Moore and writing hit series like “Cheers” and “Seinfeld” (scripting the memorable “Babu” episode, among others). Tom sat down with Gilbert and Frank to talk about early acting roles on “Gunsm...
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Gilbert and Frank reach out to actor and radio personality Danny Bonaduce to talk about his role as the smart-alecky Danny Partridge on ABC's "The Partridge Family," guest spots on shows like “Bewitched” and “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,” and his long, strange trip from child star to top-rated shock jock. Also: Danny meets a young Richard Pryor, bangs up Sonny Bono’s Porsche, runs afoul of an angry chimp a...
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Screenwriters/producers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski have written some of the most offbeat and imaginative movies of the last three decades, including "Ed Wood," "The People vs. Larry Flynt," "Man on the Moon" and "Big Eyes." Gilbert and Frank dropped by Scott and Larry’s hotel as the boys prepped for the MOMA premiere of "Big Eyes" to talk about everything from their critically reviled debut film, "Problem Child" (f...
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New York City-born Henry Winkler overcame a difficult childhood to carve out a memorable acting career, working with legends like Gene Kelly and Katherine Hepburn and portraying one of TV’s most indelible characters, Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli. Gilbert and Frank dialed up Henry at his L.A. home to talk about his struggles with dyslexia, the genius of a young Robin Williams and Henry’s enduring friendships ...
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Gilbert and Frank visit the George Burns Room at the historic New York Friars Club, where they’re joined by actor, singer and musician Micky Dolenz for a fun and fascinating look back at “Monkeemania” and his own unlikely journey from 1950’s child star (“Circus Boy”) to 1960’s pop/rock icon. Also, Micky drops in on a “Sgt. Pepper” recording session, makes movies with Jack Nichol...
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April 6, 2026 66 mins
Writer, journalist and pop culture expert Steve Cox has authored more than twenty books on film and television, including books about Johnny Carson, The Three Stooges, "The Addams Family," "I Dream of Jeannie," "The Munsters," "It’s a Wonderful Life" and "The Wizard of Oz." This week, Steve joins Gibert and Frank for a lively (and then some) conversation about Larry Fine’s lady-killing, the unappreciated comic timing of...
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